Visitors to Main Street during the last week of July might have thought that Cottages Antiques was doing some renovations. The windows were wrapped in heavy black plastic and "wet paint" signs were prominently displayed. The real reason for the black plastic was to control the light for filming of "Grave Mistakes," the third feature film by director Chris LaMartina. The wet paint signs were only to discourage curious on-lookers while filming took place.

"Grave Mistakes" is an anthology horror film comprised of four separate films about monsters, vampires, spirits, and other creepy stuff. It's all done with a sense of fun but it is recommended that you do not see it alone.

The movie premieres Oct. 21 at the Charles Theater in Baltimore. It is the perfect film to kick off the Halloween season.

When director Chris LaMartina finished filming the segments, he was looking for a way to introduce and connect all the individual films.

Remembering that one of his actors, Lee Doll, worked at Cottage Antiques, Chris approached owners Joan Malpas and Blair Jett about filming the wrap-around segment there. They readily said "yes," thinking it would attract visitors to Historic Ellicott City.

Screen writers and co-producers Jimmy George and LaMartina fashioned a script about the owner of an antique store doing business with a grave robber. Ryan Thomas was selected to play the grave robber but the antique shopkeeper had to have a Vincent Price persona. Doll suggested longtime Main Street resident John Beck for the role.

John works part-time at Main Street shops Yuppy Puppy and Mumbles & Squeaks. John surprisingly passed his audition with flying colors since he had no previous acting experience.

It took more than 20 hours to film what became a 20-minute film segment. John found the whole process enjoyable, but tiring.

"I would say the same lines over and over again while they changed the camera positions. I'd gladly do it all over again. Everyone was a pleasure to work with," Beck said.

Will John be leading the Ellicott City Ghost Tours next?

Local living legend, actor George Stover, also stars in "Grave Mistakes." For more information you can go to the Web site www.myspace.com/gravemistakesmovie.

The Mt. Hebron High School Marching Unit is celebrating homecoming Oct. 18 with a parade through town, rousing halftime performance and patriotic post-game salute.

For those who live in the area of the school please note that at noon the unit, consisting of the Viking Band, Cavaliers and Lancers, will start the parade from The Church of the Resurrection on North Chatham Road near Paulskirk Drive, proceed down Michaels Way, turn right onto Greenway, then left onto St. Johns Lane and end at Mt. Hebron High School at 12:45 p.m.

Pre-game activities begin at 1:05 p.m. with game kickoff at 1:15 p.m. The marching unit will perform routines by the Cavaliers and Lancers as well as two Marching Unit showcase selections "Sierra Sister" and "New York, New York" at the halftime show. Post game will include the marching unit exiting the stadium to "National Emblem" and their traveling medley.

The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks is offering a retirement planning workshop at Ellicott Mills Middle School Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon with instructor Roger Desai, a certified financial educator. Cost $25, call 410-313-PARK or go to www.howardcountymd.gov/RAP to register.

The Knights of Columbus Resurrection Council 11341 Ellicott City will hold a Columbus Day Italian Dinner Friday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Church of the Resurrection. Cost is $14 for adults and $6 for children 10 and younger.

For more information, call 410-203-2128 or 443-745-0529.

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